Automatic tubing catcher for wells



Sept. 13, 1927. 1 42,136

R. A. WILSON AUTOMATIC TUBING CATCHER FOR WELLS Originl Filed June 26. 1926 I INVEZVTOR. Z4 M5021.

A TTORN E Y.

Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES,

1,642,136 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. WILSON, 01 DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GUIBERSON CORPORATION, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AUTOMATIC TUBING CATCHER FOR WELLS.

Original application filed June 26, 1926, Serial No. 118,633. Dividedand this 6, 1926. Serial No. 152,777.

Thisinvention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic tubing catchers for wells.

The invention has to do with that type of 5 catcher in which slips are automatically displaced into engagement with the walls ofthe casing when the tubing to which the catcher is attached, is dropped or falls.

The object of the invention is to provide a catcher in which the actuating weight member is sustained by elastic means, other than a spring, and said elastic means being normally under tension by compression; whereby upon a fall or drop of the catcher,

the inertia of the weight will relieve the tension of said elastic means and cause the slips to set.

i A particular object of the invention is to provide an elastic support, other than a spring, for sustaining the weight.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described-to gether with other features of the invention. The invention will be more readily underfication and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of th invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is aview partly in elevation and partly in section showing a tubular catcher constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a section of well tubing having a. collar 12 at its lower end. Ahead 13 is immovably secured on the tubing. The head is formed from a cylindrical body and has a reduced collar let at its upper end surroundding the tubing. Three downwardly and inwardly inclined guide faces 15 are equally spaced on the sides of the head. A guide rib 16 extends down the center of each face. Each guide rib is dovetailed in cross section.

On each face is mounted a gripper slip 17 having its inner side or back flat so as to lie against and slide upon the guide face 15. The outer side or front of the slip is curved transversely in an arc concentric to the tubing and is rovided with the usual gripper teeth 18. Each slip is also given a wedge stood from a reading of the following speci application filed December shape, being reduced from its bottom to its top edge. It is preferable to give the back of the slip the same angle of inclination as the face 15 and to make the point of the slip on the same radius throughout, thereby holding the teeth parallel to the inner wall of the casing at all elevations of adjustment.

Each slip is formed with a'dovetailed recess 19 complementary to and receiving the guide rib 16. By this arrangement each slip is free to slide vertically, but is held against relative outward displacement and the equal spacing of the slips is also maintained. Each slip has a pair of spaced cars 20 on its bottom and the upper end of a link 21 is pivoted between said ears. At the bottom of each guide face the head has a boss 22 provided with a central slot 23 through I which the link depends. The guide ribs 16 terminate at the slots. The outer faces of the boss may conform to the curvature of the head proper. The head is provided with concaved vertical channels 24. between the guide faces 16 permitting a free passage of The upper end of the weight member is' provided with spaced ears 27 between which the lower ends of the links 21 are pivoted. On the collar 12 I mount a circular deflector disk 28 which is less in diameter than the head 13. On this disk is supported an elastic collar 29, made of rubber or other equivalent material. The weight member 25 rests upon the top of the collar and compresses the same, thus placing it under tension.

In view of the fact that the ears 20 rest upon the bosses 22 and the weight member 25 is supported by the links 21, the said weight member is only partially sustained by the elastic collar. When the catcher is being lowered into a well the disk 28 will deflect the fluid and prevent undue agitation of'the weight and thus save interference from unintentional displacement of the slips 17.

In using the catcher the tubing section 10 and the collar ,2 are connected to a string of tubing, at the desired point, which is generally at the lower end 01 the string. Normally the slips will. be withdrawn within the diameter of the head 13, and the teeth thereof will not engage the casing (not shown), thus permitting the catcher to be freely moved up and down in the casing with the string of tubing.

It the string of tubing should break at any point above the head 13 or it the string should be dropped, the operation will be as follows: The inertia of the weight member 26, accentuated by the tendency of the elas tic collar 29 to expand, will cause said weight member to momentarily remain relatively stationary, thus maintaining its position. The head 13 and tubing section 10, however, being attached to the string of moving tubing will tend to descend more rapidly and consequently the links 21 being sustained by the inert member 25, will sup port the slips 1.7. This will result in an outward or radial displacement of the slips on the guide faces 15 of the head, whereby the teeth 18 will bite into the casing and hold the parts suspended against a further drop. This action is very rapid and the catch is usually made within a few inches.

This application is filed as a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. name.

Various changes in the size and shape of the dill'erent parts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim, is:

1. In an automatic Well tubing catcher, a tubing section, a head connected with said section, gripper slips mounted on the head and movable outwardly relatively of said head, a weight slidable on the section below the head, connections between the slips and said .member, and an elastic rubber-like member supported on the tubing section and supporting the weight, whereby said rubberlike member is compressed and said weight is solidly supported.

2. In an automatic well tubing catcher, a tubing section, a head connected with said section, gripper slips mounted on the head and movable outwardly relatively of said head, a weight member slidable on the section below the head, connections between the slips and said member for supportingthe slips when the head is moved relatively downward, and asolid elastic rubber-like collar surrounding the tubing section and supporting the weight, whereby said collar is compressed and provides a solid support tor the weight so that the latter is made less sensitive to movements of the catcher.

In an automatic well tubing catcher, a tubing section, a head connected with said section, gripper slips mounted on the head and movable outwardly relatively of said head, a weightmember slidable on the sec tion below the head, connections between the slips and the member, an elastic rubber-like collar mounted on the tubing section below the said weight member and compressed by said member, a deflector disk fixed on the tubing section and supporting the elastic collar, and a coupling collar at the lower end of the tubing section supporting the disk, the disk overhanging the coupling collar and covering the bottom 01 the elastic collar to deflect oil and gas therefrom.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT A. WILSON, 

